Patricia McGee, St. Gabriel, Louisiana 25 - 1999

This is a tintype portrait of Patricia McGee from St. Gabriel, Louisiana, by Deborah Luster. It's wild, isn't it? I can imagine the artist carefully preparing the metal plate, coating it with chemicals, and then patiently waiting for the image to emerge in the darkroom. The dark background feels velvety, like it's swallowing the figure, and the way the light catches Patricia's face and clothes, it's like she is shimmering. It's interesting to see Luster playing with such an old technique. It makes you think about time and memory, doesn't it? I wonder what she was hoping to capture. It's like she's reminding us that artists are always having a conversation with each other across history, riffing on ideas, and discovering new ways to see the world.